Types of Waves

Front

What is a transverse wave?

Back

A type of wave where the particle movement is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, like waves on a string.

Front

What is a longitudinal wave?

Back

A type of wave where the particle movement is parallel to the direction of wave propagation, like sound waves.

Front

How do sound waves travel through different mediums?

Back

Sound travels fastest through solids, slower in liquids, and slowest in gases due to the density and elasticity of the medium.

Front

What is an electromagnetic wave?

Back

A wave that can travel through a vacuum and does not require a medium, such as light, X-rays, and radio waves.

Front

What is a mechanical wave?

Back

A wave that requires a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through, such as sound waves.

Front

What causes an echo?

Back

An echo is caused by sound waves reflecting off smooth, hard surfaces.

Front

What is a vacuum?

Back

A space that is completely empty of matter, such as outer space.

Front

What is the speed of sound in air?

Back

Approximately 343 meters per second (at 20°C).

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

The distance between two consecutive points in phase on a wave, such as crest to crest or trough to trough.

Front

What is frequency?

Back

The number of waves that pass a point in one second, measured in Hertz (Hz).